Foreign Minister Makey optimistic about future relations with EU

By Iryna Lewshyna, BelaPAN

Minsk, 1 March. Foreign Minister Uladzimir Makey told reporters in Minsk on Wednesday that he was optimistic about Belarus' future relations with the European Union.
"We are working to ease visa formalities with the EU," the government's news agency BelTA quoted him as saying. "I cannot say that the process is completely smooth. But there is a problem that we should discuss and are discussing with our European partners."
The minister said that visa facilitation had been discussed during a Belarusian delegation's visit to Brussels about a month ago. "Unfortunately, there are several problems that we cannot turn a blind eye to, particularly in the current situation connected with the influx of a huge number of migrants into Europe," he said. "That's why, while conducting visa talks with the EU, we should take into account in the first place the challenges and dangers that may have unwelcome consequences for Belarus, which we are doing."